VIETNAM PLANS MANDATORY HIV TESTING POLICY

        On December 18, 1992, the Vietnamese government issued a
decree under which prostitutes, drug users, prisoners,
homosexuals, and foreigners seeking to spend more than three
months in Vietnam would be tested for the AIDS virus.  The decree,
essentially a policy guideline several steps below law, further
said that citizens who test HIV-positive would not be allowed to
get married.
        HIV-immigration/travel restriction policies and the
mandatory testing of target groups have been denounced by
international public health officials, including the World Health
Organization, as counterproductive to the global fight against the
AIDS pandemic. Such policies drive people with HIV or those who
think they might have HIV away from health officials, health
services, and AIDS prevention education, thereby increasing the
spread of the disease.  Simultaneously, it encourages a false
sense of security among those perceiving themselves immune to the
virus by virtue of their lifestyle, rather than their practices.
In treating AIDS as a moral issue as opposed to a public health
issue, governments discourage people from making the behavioral
changes necessary for HIV prevention.
        According to a Vietnam based representative of CARE
International, the government has already backed down from some of
its proposals due to an outcry from public health organizations in
Vietnam. The representative also reports that the decree, in
addition to the regressive policy guidelines, also contains
several positive guidelines including an anti-discrimination
clause.
        As the decree is not yet law and has not yet been
implemented (according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice),
letters should be supportive of positive anti-discrimination
legislation while pointing out the dangers of the mandatory
testing and immigration/travel restrictions. Please write to the
following officials. Postage to Vietnam from the U.S. is $.50 per
half-ounce.

The Rt. Hon. Vo Chi Cong President of the Socialist Republic of
Viet-Nam Hoang Hoa Tham Street Hanoi, Viet-Nam

The Hon. Do Muoi, Premier Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Hoang Hoa Tham Street Hanoi, Viet-Nam

The Hon. Nguyen Co Thach The Minister of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam Street Hanoi, Viet-Nam

The Hon. Pham Song Minister of Public Health 138A Giang Vo Hanoi,
Viet-Nam

                        Model letter

The Honorable .... :

I am writing to express my support for, and opposition to, certain
measures contained in your government's December 1992 decree
regarding AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

I strongly support your efforts to introduce legislation
prohibiting discrimination against people with HIV or AIDS in all
sectors of society. This is a highly commendable step towards
ensuring the rights and freedoms of Vietnamese citizens who are
battling a life threatening illness.

However, other measures contained in the decree are
counterproductive to the fight against the AIDS pandemic and
violate fundamental rights and freedoms all people should enjoy.
Specifically, the clauses that call for mandatory testing of
specific groups including prostitutes, drug users, prisoners,
homosexuals, and foreigners seeking to spend more than three
months in Vietnam, have proven to be poor public health policy.
The World Health Organization, among other international health
bodies, has denounced mandatory testing and HIV immigration and
travel restrictions as detrimental to HIV prevention. Such
policies drive people with HIV or those who think they might have
HIV away from health officials, health services, and AIDS
prevention education, thereby increasing the spread of the
disease. Simultaneously, it encourages a false sense of security
among those perceiving themselves immune to the virus by virtue of
their lifestyle, rather than their practices.

I urge you to reconsider these particular clauses of the decree
and replace them with proven methods of HIV prevention, including
widespread, culturally appropriate, sexually explicit AIDS
prevention education for everyone living in or visiting Vietnam,
available AIDS prevention tools, and free/anonymous HIV-testing
for anyone who wants it.

Thank you for your efforts to prevent discrimination against
people with HIV or AIDS. Your reply will be most appreciated.

Sincerely,